The answer is probably no one. This is a basketball conference with some strong academic chops, many of the schools with good fan bases. You really want a top 100 or so NET school to stay relevant for at-large bids. Currently the A10 has most of it's schools, 9 in all between #71 and #108, in addition to Dayton sitting at #20 in NET. Even the down schools are not in the bottom 40% of D-I.

#20 Dayton (21-5)

71 St. Bony (17-10), #72 Richmond (21-7), #76 VCU (18-9), #87 UMass (17-10), #89 George Mason (17-9), #92 Loyola Chicago (19-7), #99 St. Joe's (17-11), #105 Duquesne (15-11), #108 Davidson (13-12).

This year looks like one bid, unless somebody other than Dayton wins their tournament. An expansion candidate needs to bring as much value as Davidson or LUC did. So, I did a quick check on NET and resources, giving a dozen candidates to look at, mostly MVC but some CAA and MAAC. The list winnows down quickly when you figure a need for success, located in a good-sized metro, and focused on basketball for realignment over football.

The out: Illinois State (more obvious realignment fit is MAC in FBS), Fairfield (passed on CAA, small time mindset), Sienna (too remote), Iona (another NYC school would be vetoed, have fallen back to usual lousy), Stony Brook (football, non-starter), UNC Wilmington and Towson (insufficient budget levels), Valpo (budget a bit smaller).

The remaining viable: Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, and College of Charleston. Evansville hasn't been good for a long while. Drake is out in Des Moine, Iowa, which is just too far from any metro. Bradley is a bit better being in Peoria, but that really isn't the type of Metro the A10 is about. That leaves Belmont (NET 131) in Nashville, and the College of Charleston (NET 102) as the only real candidates left for consideration. Belmont is built around a music school, which doesn't really fit the A-10 profile, leading me to believe the Presidents would pass on them. Charleston is a state school, but a bit of a stretch to match A-10 profile. It's also a bit of an outlier with the A-10, not really close enough to Davidson.

None of the viable schools is consistently strong enough to overcome mismatch in profile with the A-10, That leads me to conclude the conference will simply stand at 14 without UMass.

(02-27-2024 09:38 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 09:20 PM)C2__ Wrote:  William & Mary may want to go to the Tournament before applying for A-10 membership. Even St. Peter's is ahead of them in the pecking order (due to notoriety and location, not finances and facilities at all).

Saint Peter’s has an athletic budget that doesn’t even rank in the top-350 of D-I. There is no world where the A-10 takes in a school with an athletic budget that fails to crack the top-350. You dunk on DavidSt and call him a stand-up comedian, yet you’re here imitating him.

What they have is location and more importantly, notoriety. Name an A-10 program that's been added in the last 25 years that hasn't at least pulled a major upset or 3-4 in at least 1 Tournament since the 1990's? By that criteria alone, they'd be a name to watch IF (key word) they got in the Tournament and caused some mayhem again. They're nowhere close right now for certain but if they can get in the Dance and make some noise again, they'd at least have an outside shot.

Not betting on it of course but given the A-10's desire to have brands that have busted brackets in March, it's not impossible. And it's not exactly like the A-10 is totally full of HUGE schools with the best facilities around. They're certainly much richer and better than St. Pete but not exactly P5 in most cases.

And let me add that for all the reasons you stated, they'd be another Duquesne or Fordham in the A-10. So this is just as much about the A-10's tendency for short term thinking as it because St. Pete is deserving or truly desirable. Such thinking led to adds such as George Mason (who duplicates a P6 market that already is covered by an A10 team who is secondary in the said market) and Fordham.

William & Mary could be in the Patriot if Patsy would just knock it off with the academic index. That thing continues to age like milk. It would be a cool school to add to the A10, but only being an hour or so (if that?) from two Richmond-based schools, I don’t think it helps.

I didn’t list UNCW or UNCG, who, either would be okay. I just don’t see Davidson being fine with it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had other private member support for their concerns. I think those candidates are why I place CoC so near the top. I think A10 can do much better (like, really…VERMONT), but I get CoC, even if I have to have a couple of drinks and squint.

St. Peter’s has a 0.000000% chance at the A10


I forgot CofC was public. Apparently it was private for some time.

(02-27-2024 09:10 PM)esayem Wrote:  I don’t think the Big East adding Dayton would be detrimental in any way shape or form. They’re a top 25 program without Big East exposure. The Big East bringing in Dayton would rekindle the great UD-XU rivalry, but it would add to the meat grinder.

I agree with this. I think we're somewhat moving away from the marketz, marketz, marketz thing w/ realignment and moving more towards matchups, brands, etc. Dayton -> Big East is almost a no brainer for me.

(02-27-2024 10:36 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The answer is probably no one. This is a basketball conference with some strong academic chops, many of the schools with good fan bases. You really want a top 100 or so NET school to stay relevant for at-large bids. Currently the A10 has most of it's schools, 9 in all between #71 and #108, in addition to Dayton sitting at #20 in NET. Even the down schools are not in the bottom 40% of D-I.

#20 Dayton (21-5)

71 St. Bony (17-10), #72 Richmond (21-7), #76 VCU (18-9), #87 UMass (17-10), #89 George Mason (17-9), #92 Loyola Chicago (19-7), #99 St. Joe's (17-11), #105 Duquesne (15-11), #108 Davidson (13-12).

This year looks like one bid, unless somebody other than Dayton wins their tournament. An expansion candidate needs to bring as much value as Davidson or LUC did. So, I did a quick check on NET and resources, giving a dozen candidates to look at, mostly MVC but some CAA and MAAC. The list winnows down quickly when you figure a need for success, located in a good-sized metro, and focused on basketball for realignment over football.

The out: Illinois State (more obvious realignment fit is MAC in FBS), Fairfield (passed on CAA, small time mindset), Sienna (too remote), Iona (another NYC school would be vetoed, have fallen back to usual lousy), Stony Brook (football, non-starter), UNC Wilmington and Towson (insufficient budget levels), Valpo (budget a bit smaller).

The remaining viable: Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, and College of Charleston. Evansville hasn't been good for a long while. Drake is out in Des Moine, Iowa, which is just too far from any metro. Bradley is a bit better being in Peoria, but that really isn't the type of Metro the A10 is about. That leaves Belmont (NET 131) in Nashville, and the College of Charleston (NET 102) as the only real candidates left for consideration. Belmont is built around a music school, which doesn't really fit the A-10 profile, leading me to believe the Presidents would pass on them. Charleston is a state school, but a bit of a stretch to match A-10 profile. It's also a bit of an outlier with the A-10, not really close enough to Davidson.

None of the viable schools is consistently strong enough to overcome mismatch in profile with the A-10, That leads me to conclude the conference will simply stand at 14 without UMass.

Charleston is only a little more than 200 miles from Davidson, and within 300 miles of VCU and Richmond. They're slightly closer to the closest conference members than Belmont, which is a little more than 300 miles from both Dayton and Saint Louis, both of whom are frequently cited as the most likely flight risks among remaining members.

Yes, Charleston immediately becomes the southern outpost of the A10 should it join that conference, and that could be problematic for some of the more northern members. But at a minimum, it provides a potentially intriguing conference tournament site.

Count me as one who believes that “markets” were usually a false flag or scapegoat to cover for politics.

You can argue the Big East definitely picked the right three schools when it split based on performance. Nobody can deny UConn. But, if further expansion has yet to include Dayton, it isn’t about markets. It’s about Xavier not wanting another southwestern Ohio school around.

(02-28-2024 09:08 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Count me as one who believes that “markets” were usually a false flag or scapegoat to cover for politics.

You can argue the Big East definitely picked the right three schools when it split based on performance. Nobody can deny UConn. But, if further expansion has yet to include Dayton, it isn’t about markets. It’s about Xavier not wanting another southwestern Ohio school around.

It’s sort of “to-may-to” or “to-mah-to” there.

The Xavier and Dayton markets are adjacent to each other and overlap.

Dayton isn’t a large enough market or a strong enough brand name to overcome that issue. That is in contrast to, say, Texas going to the SEC over the likely objections of Texas A&M.

I know a lot of people think it’s somehow nefarious or “acting scared” when a school doesn’t want another school in its same region in its league, but I see it as totally rational when it comes to realignment decisions. Protecting your own turf is a base-level survival instinct.

(02-28-2024 09:53 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:08 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Count me as one who believes that “markets” were usually a false flag or scapegoat to cover for politics.

You can argue the Big East definitely picked the right three schools when it split based on performance. Nobody can deny UConn. But, if further expansion has yet to include Dayton, it isn’t about markets. It’s about Xavier not wanting another southwestern Ohio school around.

It’s sort of “to-may-to” or “to-mah-to” there.

The Xavier and Dayton markets are adjacent to each other and overlap.

Dayton isn’t a large enough market or a strong enough brand name to overcome that issue. That is in contrast to, say, Texas going to the SEC over the likely objections of Texas A&M.

I know a lot of people think it’s somehow nefarious or “acting scared” when a school doesn’t want another school in its same region in its league, but I see it as totally rational when it comes to realignment decisions. Protecting your own turf is a base-level survival instinct.

The A10 added Dayton and Xavier at the same time and it was great for the league.

(02-28-2024 10:18 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:53 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:08 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Count me as one who believes that “markets” were usually a false flag or scapegoat to cover for politics.

You can argue the Big East definitely picked the right three schools when it split based on performance. Nobody can deny UConn. But, if further expansion has yet to include Dayton, it isn’t about markets. It’s about Xavier not wanting another southwestern Ohio school around.

It’s sort of “to-may-to” or “to-mah-to” there.

The Xavier and Dayton markets are adjacent to each other and overlap.

Dayton isn’t a large enough market or a strong enough brand name to overcome that issue. That is in contrast to, say, Texas going to the SEC over the likely objections of Texas A&M.

I know a lot of people think it’s somehow nefarious or “acting scared” when a school doesn’t want another school in its same region in its league, but I see it as totally rational when it comes to realignment decisions. Protecting your own turf is a base-level survival instinct.

The A10 added Dayton and Xavier at the same time and it was great for the league.

And Dayton seems to be the more successful now. Doesn’t seem to be helping Xavier much. The BE picked Xavier based on a ten year run. Short-sighted.

(02-28-2024 10:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 10:18 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:53 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:08 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Count me as one who believes that “markets” were usually a false flag or scapegoat to cover for politics.

You can argue the Big East definitely picked the right three schools when it split based on performance. Nobody can deny UConn. But, if further expansion has yet to include Dayton, it isn’t about markets. It’s about Xavier not wanting another southwestern Ohio school around.

It’s sort of “to-may-to” or “to-mah-to” there.

The Xavier and Dayton markets are adjacent to each other and overlap.

Dayton isn’t a large enough market or a strong enough brand name to overcome that issue. That is in contrast to, say, Texas going to the SEC over the likely objections of Texas A&M.

I know a lot of people think it’s somehow nefarious or “acting scared” when a school doesn’t want another school in its same region in its league, but I see it as totally rational when it comes to realignment decisions. Protecting your own turf is a base-level survival instinct.

The A10 added Dayton and Xavier at the same time and it was great for the league.

And Dayton seems to be the more successful now. Doesn’t seem to be helping Xavier much. The BE picked Xavier based on a ten year run. Short-sighted.

X was a great add for the BE. They have been consistently good for 30 years. One down year due to injuries doesn't make it a mistake.

Dayton adds nothing to the BE. There is no reason to consider them unless multiple BE schools leave. Same for SLU. BE isn't expanding for the foreseeable future.

(02-28-2024 06:58 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  William & Mary could be in the Patriot if Patsy would just knock it off with the academic index. That thing continues to age like milk. It would be a cool school to add to the A10, but only being an hour or so (if that?) from two Richmond-based schools, I don’t think it helps.

I didn’t list UNCW or UNCG, who, either would be okay. I just don’t see Davidson being fine with it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had other private member support for their concerns. I think those candidates are why I place CoC so near the top. I think A10 can do much better (like, really…VERMONT), but I get CoC, even if I have to have a couple of drinks and squint.

So you think that the A-10 would be OK with a high school gym?

(02-28-2024 10:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 10:18 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:53 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:08 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Count me as one who believes that “markets” were usually a false flag or scapegoat to cover for politics.

You can argue the Big East definitely picked the right three schools when it split based on performance. Nobody can deny UConn. But, if further expansion has yet to include Dayton, it isn’t about markets. It’s about Xavier not wanting another southwestern Ohio school around.

It’s sort of “to-may-to” or “to-mah-to” there.

The Xavier and Dayton markets are adjacent to each other and overlap.

Dayton isn’t a large enough market or a strong enough brand name to overcome that issue. That is in contrast to, say, Texas going to the SEC over the likely objections of Texas A&M.

I know a lot of people think it’s somehow nefarious or “acting scared” when a school doesn’t want another school in its same region in its league, but I see it as totally rational when it comes to realignment decisions. Protecting your own turf is a base-level survival instinct.

The A10 added Dayton and Xavier at the same time and it was great for the league.

And Dayton seems to be the more successful now. Doesn’t seem to be helping Xavier much. The BE picked Xavier based on a ten year run. Short-sighted.

Dayton is a nice school that has not committed the resources necessary to dominate the weakened A10. Dayton is passing up the opportunity provided. Xavier dominated a much stronger A10 for a decade plus in addition to Xavier being located in a major city. Added to the Big East, Dayton would quickly join DePaul at the bottom of the standings. The schools that drive the Big East - UConn, Villanova, Georgetown, Marquette are not looking for games in Dayton OH. Those schools want Notre Dame or Syracuse as expansion candidates. It’s not Xavier blocking Dayton - it’s those schools.

If Dayton started significantly investing in basketball today and the Big East lost teams, then Dayton may be viable replacement candidate. There is no other path for Dayton to the Big East.

Overall, it’s crazy to see the Dayton love on this site. Yes Dayton has great in person attendance. No that won’t help the Big East earn more money. There is no institutional advantage to playing games in Dayton OH that Chicago provides for DePaul. Unlike football, nice basketball attendance does not translate to more money at the scale necessary to add a team to a tip conference.

(02-27-2024 10:36 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The answer is probably no one. This is a basketball conference with some strong academic chops, many of the schools with good fan bases. You really want a top 100 or so NET school to stay relevant for at-large bids. Currently the A10 has most of it's schools, 9 in all between #71 and #108, in addition to Dayton sitting at #20 in NET. Even the down schools are not in the bottom 40% of D-I.

#20 Dayton (21-5)

71 St. Bony (17-10), #72 Richmond (21-7), #76 VCU (18-9), #87 UMass (17-10), #89 George Mason (17-9), #92 Loyola Chicago (19-7), #99 St. Joe's (17-11), #105 Duquesne (15-11), #108 Davidson (13-12).

This year looks like one bid, unless somebody other than Dayton wins their tournament. An expansion candidate needs to bring as much value as Davidson or LUC did. So, I did a quick check on NET and resources, giving a dozen candidates to look at, mostly MVC but some CAA and MAAC. The list winnows down quickly when you figure a need for success, located in a good-sized metro, and focused on basketball for realignment over football.

The out: Illinois State (more obvious realignment fit is MAC in FBS), Fairfield (passed on CAA, small time mindset), Sienna (too remote), Iona (another NYC school would be vetoed, have fallen back to usual lousy), Stony Brook (football, non-starter), UNC Wilmington and Towson (insufficient budget levels), Valpo (budget a bit smaller).

The remaining viable: Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, and College of Charleston. Evansville hasn't been good for a long while. Drake is out in Des Moine, Iowa, which is just too far from any metro. Bradley is a bit better being in Peoria, but that really isn't the type of Metro the A10 is about. That leaves Belmont (NET 131) in Nashville, and the College of Charleston (NET 102) as the only real candidates left for consideration. Belmont is built around a music school, which doesn't really fit the A-10 profile, leading me to believe the Presidents would pass on them. Charleston is a state school, but a bit of a stretch to match A-10 profile. It's also a bit of an outlier with the A-10, not really close enough to Davidson.

None of the viable schools is consistently strong enough to overcome mismatch in profile with the A-10, That leads me to conclude the conference will simply stand at 14 without UMass.

Dayton wants out for the Big East, but they might settle for the AAC.
Richmond could see the writing on the wall, and do something to help improve their basketball and football. I still think Richmond gets in since they always go far in the tournament. I think they are under rated for 21-7 team.
VCU could pack up their bags and go to the AAC.
Those three all could go to an FBS conference, and it would weaken the A10 even further.
Stony Brook and Albany both could go to FBS. Both are very good academics, and they may slide in somewhere.
Towson is pretty good in football, and they could raise the funds to go FBS. The Baltimore area media market is an attraction going for them.
William and Mary may go to their other publics, and try and go FBS if they wanted to, and not the Patriot League.


Quinnipiac could go to A10
American U. but they don't have good basketball
They could wind up with some Big East schools when the FBS conferences start to pick them apart.
Boston U.
Merrimack
Northeastern
Loyola Maryland
Detroit Mercy if they go to A10? That would make an opening for Wayne State to move up to take their place.
High Point
Rider
Canisius
Hofstra
LIU
Manhattan
Marist
Niagara
Drexel
Lipscomb
Longwood
Bellarmine
Le Moyne
Queens U.
Lindenwood

(02-28-2024 11:22 AM)mainejeff Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 06:58 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  William & Mary could be in the Patriot if Patsy would just knock it off with the academic index. That thing continues to age like milk. It would be a cool school to add to the A10, but only being an hour or so (if that?) from two Richmond-based schools, I don’t think it helps.

I didn’t list UNCW or UNCG, who, either would be okay. I just don’t see Davidson being fine with it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had other private member support for their concerns. I think those candidates are why I place CoC so near the top. I think A10 can do much better (like, really…VERMONT), but I get CoC, even if I have to have a couple of drinks and squint.

So you think that the A-10 would be OK with a high school gym?

Does it make it a better basketball conference to have nice gyms but mediocre to bad programs? Asking for Chicago Sta…err…a friend.

(02-28-2024 11:09 AM)MU88 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 10:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 10:18 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:53 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:08 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Count me as one who believes that “markets” were usually a false flag or scapegoat to cover for politics.

You can argue the Big East definitely picked the right three schools when it split based on performance. Nobody can deny UConn. But, if further expansion has yet to include Dayton, it isn’t about markets. It’s about Xavier not wanting another southwestern Ohio school around.

It’s sort of “to-may-to” or “to-mah-to” there.

The Xavier and Dayton markets are adjacent to each other and overlap.

Dayton isn’t a large enough market or a strong enough brand name to overcome that issue. That is in contrast to, say, Texas going to the SEC over the likely objections of Texas A&M.

I know a lot of people think it’s somehow nefarious or “acting scared” when a school doesn’t want another school in its same region in its league, but I see it as totally rational when it comes to realignment decisions. Protecting your own turf is a base-level survival instinct.

The A10 added Dayton and Xavier at the same time and it was great for the league.

And Dayton seems to be the more successful now. Doesn’t seem to be helping Xavier much. The BE picked Xavier based on a ten year run. Short-sighted.

X was a great add for the BE. They have been consistently good for 30 years. One down year due to injuries doesn't make it a mistake.

Dayton adds nothing to the BE. There is no reason to consider them unless multiple BE schools leave. Same for SLU. BE isn't expanding for the foreseeable future.

That could change in a hurry depending on what happens with the ACC and which ACC members wind up in the left behind category. I agree that they won't be taking any additional A10 schools anytime soon.

(02-27-2024 10:36 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The answer is probably no one. This is a basketball conference with some strong academic chops, many of the schools with good fan bases. You really want a top 100 or so NET school to stay relevant for at-large bids. Currently the A10 has most of it's schools, 9 in all between #71 and #108, in addition to Dayton sitting at #20 in NET. Even the down schools are not in the bottom 40% of D-I.

#20 Dayton (21-5)

71 St. Bony (17-10), #72 Richmond (21-7), #76 VCU (18-9), #87 UMass (17-10), #89 George Mason (17-9), #92 Loyola Chicago (19-7), #99 St. Joe's (17-11), #105 Duquesne (15-11), #108 Davidson (13-12).

This year looks like one bid, unless somebody other than Dayton wins their tournament. An expansion candidate needs to bring as much value as Davidson or LUC did. So, I did a quick check on NET and resources, giving a dozen candidates to look at, mostly MVC but some CAA and MAAC. The list winnows down quickly when you figure a need for success, located in a good-sized metro, and focused on basketball for realignment over football.

The out: Illinois State (more obvious realignment fit is MAC in FBS), Fairfield (passed on CAA, small time mindset), Sienna (too remote), Iona (another NYC school would be vetoed, have fallen back to usual lousy), Stony Brook (football, non-starter), UNC Wilmington and Towson (insufficient budget levels), Valpo (budget a bit smaller).

The remaining viable: Belmont, Bradley, Drake, Evansville, and College of Charleston. Evansville hasn't been good for a long while. Drake is out in Des Moine, Iowa, which is just too far from any metro. Bradley is a bit better being in Peoria, but that really isn't the type of Metro the A10 is about. That leaves Belmont (NET 131) in Nashville, and the College of Charleston (NET 102) as the only real candidates left for consideration. Belmont is built around a music school, which doesn't really fit the A-10 profile, leading me to believe the Presidents would pass on them. Charleston is a state school, but a bit of a stretch to match A-10 profile. It's also a bit of an outlier with the A-10, not really close enough to Davidson.

None of the viable schools is consistently strong enough to overcome mismatch in profile with the A-10, That leads me to conclude the conference will simply stand at 14 without UMass.

Well, since you bring up Belmont in Nashville, what about Samford University in Birmingham, AL?? Birmingham is definitely a metro, and Samford could honestly care a less about FBS football. They do like FCS football, but I don't see Samford moving up to FBS for a very long time, if ever. (Their FCS team would have to find a new home though.) And that's not a knock on the school; football is just not their niche, but basketball is!! Samford does have the Cumberland School of Law, and, if anything, they're kind of built around that and their other majors in addition to music.

(02-28-2024 12:17 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:22 AM)mainejeff Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 06:58 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  William & Mary could be in the Patriot if Patsy would just knock it off with the academic index. That thing continues to age like milk. It would be a cool school to add to the A10, but only being an hour or so (if that?) from two Richmond-based schools, I don’t think it helps.

I didn’t list UNCW or UNCG, who, either would be okay. I just don’t see Davidson being fine with it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had other private member support for their concerns. I think those candidates are why I place CoC so near the top. I think A10 can do much better (like, really…VERMONT), but I get CoC, even if I have to have a couple of drinks and squint.

So you think that the A-10 would be OK with a high school gym?

Does it make it a better basketball conference to have nice gyms but mediocre to bad programs? Asking for Chicago Sta…err…a friend.

I guess that beggars....errr the A-10.....can't be choosers at this point.

(02-28-2024 11:09 AM)MU88 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 10:52 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 10:18 AM)esayem Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:53 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:08 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  Count me as one who believes that “markets” were usually a false flag or scapegoat to cover for politics.

You can argue the Big East definitely picked the right three schools when it split based on performance. Nobody can deny UConn. But, if further expansion has yet to include Dayton, it isn’t about markets. It’s about Xavier not wanting another southwestern Ohio school around.

It’s sort of “to-may-to” or “to-mah-to” there.

The Xavier and Dayton markets are adjacent to each other and overlap.

Dayton isn’t a large enough market or a strong enough brand name to overcome that issue. That is in contrast to, say, Texas going to the SEC over the likely objections of Texas A&M.

I know a lot of people think it’s somehow nefarious or “acting scared” when a school doesn’t want another school in its same region in its league, but I see it as totally rational when it comes to realignment decisions. Protecting your own turf is a base-level survival instinct.

The A10 added Dayton and Xavier at the same time and it was great for the league.

And Dayton seems to be the more successful now. Doesn’t seem to be helping Xavier much. The BE picked Xavier based on a ten year run. Short-sighted.

X was a great add for the BE. They have been consistently good for 30 years. One down year due to injuries doesn't make it a mistake.

Dayton adds nothing to the BE. There is no reason to consider them unless multiple BE schools leave. Same for SLU. BE isn't expanding for the foreseeable future.

They BOTH would be great adds, X already being there. X was good for decades with deep penetrations into the Tournament.

Dayton has excellent fan support and may have a national title if not for Covid.